The British Horseracing Authority "is preparing to put its weight behind efforts begun in Asia to deal with the increasing problem posed by unregulated betting exchanges," according to Chris Cook of the London GUARDIAN. Huge volumes of money "'are reckoned to flow through a handful of websites that bet on races around the world," including British meetings, "but neither the odds nor sums traded are visible to outsiders and there is no way to establish who is placing the bets," typically staked by agents. Such activity "poses a twin danger to the sport." There is the "obvious integrity threat that comes with a total lack of transparency." But such sites "also undermine the sport’s income, since they make no financial contribution" while taking business from bookmakers who have signed up to give a portion of their profits to racing. Trainers and other industry insiders in Britain "are in the habit of regarding Betfair, Betdaq and other exchanges as an integrity threat," because they allow customers to bet directly against one horse. Unregulated exchanges "pose a much greater threat," BHA Chief Regulatory Officer Brant Dunshea said. Dunshea: "Over the past few years we’ve observed a decrease in the number of issues from the domestically-based exchanges in relation to betting-related corruption issues. And during that time we’ve also seen a quite rapid increase in the activity of unregulated betting platforms in southeast Asia and other parts of the world." Dunshea’s fears "are a restrained version of those expressed by Martin Purbrick, his opposite number" at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, who has warned of a "tsunami of illegal betting" threatening the sport’s viability. Officials in Europe "are increasingly aware that while the threat originates from the Asia-Pacific region, its reach is global" (GUARDIAN, 12/17).
PAYOFF: In London, Rob Davies reported Ladbrokes agreed to pay £1M ($1.26M) to "the victims of a problem gambler who had stolen the money he was using to bet," in return for "a pledge not to inform the industry regulator." The betting firm "showered the gambling addict" with thousands of pounds' worth of gifts over two years -- "including free tickets to football matches and business class flights." The gambler, a British citizen who ran a property business in Dubai, "later admitted to having stolen from his clients in order to fund his high-roller habit," which cost him up to £60,000 in a day (GUARDIAN, 12/17).
COMING CLEAN: The AAP reported a key member of the "Aquanita eight" admitted to administering illegal raceday treatments for trainer Robert Smerdon and other members of a "circle of trust," but denied "doping Melbourne Cup horses." Float driver Greg Nelligan "initially maintained only he and Smerdon were involved in the cheating conspiracy," before implicating the other people banned for their roles in Australia's biggest racing scandal. Nelligan said that he and Smerdon had an agreement that a "top-up" meant administering sodium bicarbonate and Tripart paste to horses on racedays (AAP, 12/17).
